The Swift Current/Moose Jaw employment region had 1,400 more people employed at the end of November than in February before the pandemic lockdown occurred.
There was 52,600 employed in the region, compared with 52,100 in February, according to the Statistics Canada monthly employment survey.
Unemployment was 3,500 compared with 2,600 eight months before but the labour force of 54,800 was 1,700 less, meaning that 1,700 potential workers either quit looking for work or moved out of the region.
The Regina/Moose Mountain region unemployment rate of seven per cent was higher than 4.5 per cent in February and was highest of the five labour regions in the province.
Second-highest unemployment rate was 6.4 per cent in the Swift Current/Moose Jaw employment region, up from 4.5 per cent a year ago.
Third-highest unemployment rate was 5.7 per cent in the Prince Albert Northern region, up from 5.5 per cent.
Fourth lowest was the Saskatoon/Biggar region where unemployment was 5.2 per cent, up from five per cent last year.
Lowest unemployment rate was Yorkton/Melville with five per cent one year ago.
The Saskatchewan unemployment rate of six per cent, up from 4.9 per cent a year ago, was the lowest in Canada.
Ron Walter can be reached at [email protected]
